Mechatronic simulator of lever driven wheelchairs

Development of the lever-driven wheelchairs by different authors resulted in creating various lever-human work conditions in which disabled people propel their wheelchairs. This fact implies varying efficiency of human’s work during lever wheelchair propulsion. In order to assess which of the world-wide proposed lever propulsion systems is the most efficient from the humans’ work point of view a proper simulator was designed. Here described test stand offers the possibility to perform various ergonomic tests, it can also become a training station for the lever wheelchair users. Since the main differences in world known lever propelling system designs concern the lever length and levers axis of rotation position on the wheelchair, the wide regulation of these two parameters, was a decisive factor in designing the mechatronic simulator.